Multiplex electric-arc lamp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. H. MATHER.

MULTIPLEX ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 323,516. Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

7' Lb Leases. Inn/6777507,

(No Model. 2 Sheets Sheet 2; R. H. MA-THER.

MULTIPLEX ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 323,516. Patented Aug. 4, 1885..

I 7 117168868 Inventor N. PETERS. PMlo-mhognpher. Washington. D. C.

UNHED STATES PATENT QFFIQEQ RICHARD H. MATHER, OF \VINDSOR, CONNECTICUT.

M ULTIPLEX ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,516, dated August 1', 1885.

Application filed June 18, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. hIATI-IER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at VVindsor, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiplex Electric-Arc Lamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of multiplex electric-arc lamps in-which the electric current is automatically directed in its proper course through the lamp by means of approp riate electrical switches whose contact-points are the carbons of the lamp, and in which the carbons and feed mechanisms of the lamp are utilized as parts of such switches, whereby special movable parts for such switches alone are rendered superfluous.

The objector" myinvcntion is to so construct, combine, and connect the elements of two or more single lamps of the general character described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 268,254, issued to me November 28, 1882, as to produce a new and simple multiplex lamp of the class first mentioned. This object I accomplish by means of a peculiar construction and connection of the feed-magnets of my improved lamp.

My invention, which is not limited in its application to any specific form of electric lamp, may conveniently be described as applied to an electriclamp and regulator there of having a carbon-holder with a rod or tube which slides through a friction clutch or spring-clamp, the latter being operated by an electro-magnet to produce feed, and by the recoil of a spring to prevent feed and to separate the carbons.

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principle of my invention is illustrated in said drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a duplex lamp embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof a duplex lamp embodying my invention in a modified form.

(No model.)

A and B are two single electric-arc lamps supported in a suitable frame. These lamps are provided each with an automatic feeding device of the kind above mentioned and in dicated in the drawings, and are peculiar in their construction only as hereinafter men tioned. In Fig. 1 the supporting-springs and s, embraced in the feed mechanisms before mentioned, are of unequal strength, 3 being appreciably and considerably stronger than 8. A large wire, P, connected with either pole of the generatorI will say the positive pole, as indicated in the drawings-separates at any convenient point into two branches, to and b. The branch at passes directly to lamp A, where, by means of the binding-post w and brush 1), it is electrically connected with the carbon-rod a. The branch wire I) proceeds to the magnet of lamp B, is wound about the core thereof, and constitutes the coarse-wire coil 7), and thence passes as b to the hinding-post w, which, by means of the contactbrush p, is electrically connected with the carbon-rod b Likewise, a coarse wire, N, from the other pole of the generator separates at any convenient point into two branches, at

and I), which are respectively connected with the lower carbons, a and If. The feed-magnet in lamp A is wound with a fine-wire coil, 61, while the feed-magnet of lamp B is wound by the fine-wire coil (1", in addition to the coarsewire coil b,before mentioned. The coils b and d are Wound in one and the same direction, so that the same may re-enforce or assist each other in the manner of supplementary coils. The fine-wire coils d and d" are in one and the same shunt-circuit, P a, w d d d, d" cl N, shown, or in separate shuntcircuits about the carbons. The order in which the coils d and b are wound upon the core of the i'eedmagnet in lamp B is unimportant; but it is convenient to wind them in the order named, beginning at said core, as shown. The shunt-coil d is strong enough in its electro-magnetic action to overcome the resistance of the spring s when ever the normal arc is formed by the separation of the carbons, as hereinafter explained, while the shunt-coil d is not of suflicient energy to overcome the resistance of the spring 8, except when an abnormally long are is formed between the carbons b" and b In Fig.

1 the electromagnetic efficiency of the coil 1) is equal to the excess in strength of s over 8, while the shunt-coils are wound to an equal strength or electro-magnetic e'fliciency. In Fig. 2, however, the springs s and s are equal to each other in strength, while the shuntcoil d is stronger than cl, being equal in electro magnetic eiliciency to I) and cl" together.

The difference in construction between my improved lamp shown in Fig. l and the modification thereofshown in Fig. 2 is this, namely, that in Fig. 1 an unequal initial sensitiveness is imparted to the feed mechanisms thereof by means of an inequality in the springs s and s, the shunt-coils being equal, while in Fig. 2 the like result is produced by means of an inequality in the shunt-coils, the springs being equal.

The mode of operation, which is the same in both cases, is as follows: Vhen the current is not passing through the lamp, the positive and negative carbons of each set are separated from each other, being held apart by the power of the springs s and s; but as soon as the current from the generator is passed through the lamp the said shunt-coils are energized thereby, and the spri ngs, which is absolutely weaker than the springs, as shown in Fig. 1, or which, by reason of unequal shunt-coils, is relatively weaker than 8, as shown in Fig. 2, is first affected. the springclamp in lamp A is drawn downward, and the carbons in lamp A are thus brought together. The circuit is then closed through P a 'w p a a a a N. Lamp A accordingly now operates as a single lamp of the type specified patented to me as above stated, and during such operation the carbons of lamp 1 are held apart by the spring 8' until the feed in lamp A is arrested by means of the stop on the carbon-rod a, and then as the are between a and a lengthens an increasing current is passed through the shunt-coils by the way of the line wires before mentioned. As the current through the shunt-coil d increases,the attraction exerted upon the springarmature in lamp B overcomes the power of the spring .9, and causes the lamp B to feed until its carbons I)" and If meet in electrical connection. Thereupon the current which previously passed through the carbons a and a at once passes through the carbons of lamp B, the circuit being closed through P I) b b w p b Z) b b N, and the light in lamp A goes out. The memberB of this duplex lamp then proceeds to operate in the manner of a single lamp of the type last mentioned, during which operation the magnetic attraction caused by the coil 2) is equal in Fig. 1 to the excess in strength of the spring 8 over the spring 8, and in Fig. 2 to the excess in electromagnetic efficiency of the coil (1 over that of the coil (1, so that the carbons b and If burn with the same length of are and with the same brillianey as did the carbons a and a.

The successive operation of the lamps or members A and I in the sequence described results necessarily from the greater initial sensitiveness of the feed mechanism of lamp A, due to the construction described.

From the foregoing explanation it will be understood that the current through the shuntcoils is never fully interrupted while the multiplex lamp is in operation, that the coil I) of lamp 13 operates to increase or supplement the action of the coil (1 or to counteract the force of the spring .9 only when the lamp B is burning, and that the principle of this invention which has now been explained in its application to a duplex lamp may be applied in like manner to a multiplex lamp of any greater number of members by simple extension and addition, without the introduction of any new principle. There is no need of any switchmagnet in any particular member of my improved lamp; but it is desirable to have a switch-magnet or automatic cutout in each such lamp, considered as a whole, which cut out may be of any ordinary construction and arrangement.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Iatent 1. An eleetricarc lamp containing two or more pairs or sets of carbons whose feed mechanisms are actuated by a series consisting of a corresponding number of electro-maguets, the first magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil, and the second magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil and with a main-circuit coil supplementary thereto, in which lamp each such set of carbons constitutes a pair of contacts in a compound automatic switch regulating such lamp and coordinating the functions thereof, substantially as specified.

2. An clectric-arc lamp containing two or more pairs or sets of carbons whose feed mechanisms are actuated by a series consisting of a corresponding number of elcctromagnets, the first magnet in said series being wound with one helix and located in a shunt circuit about said carbons, and the second magnet in said series being wound with two helices, one of which is placed in a shunt-circuit about said carbons, and the other ot. which is connected in series with that pair of carbons whose feed mechanism is actuated by said second magnet, whereby the normal establishment, maintenance, and disestablislnnent ot' the current through said sets of carbons automatically determines and regulates the excitation of said helices, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

3. In a multiplex electric-arc lamp, asingle set or pair of carbons, suitable holders there for, a red or tube carrying one of said holders, a friction-clutch adapted to engage said rod or tube, and a spring upon which said clutch is mounted, in combination with an electromagnetadapted to actuate said clutch, said magnet being wound in one and the same direction with two coils orheliccs, one of said coils being placed in an electric circuit in series with said carbons and with a source of current, and the other of said coils being in a derived circuit about said carbons, substantially in the manner and for'the purpose specified.

at. A pair of carbons with holders therefor, a rod or tube to which one of said holders is joined, and a spring-clutch adapted to engage said rod or tube, in combination with an electro-magnet adapted to actuate said clutch, and wound in a single direction with two helices, one of which is connected in series with said carbons, and the other of which is in a de rived circuit about said carbons, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

5. In a multiplex electricarc lamp, a pair of carbons and a carbon rod or holder carrying one of said carbons, in combination with feed mechanism actuating said carbon rod or holder, and controlled by an electio-magnet wound with two independent coils or helices adapted to re-enforce each other in energizing such magnet, one of said coils being connected in series and the other in parallel with said carbons, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

6. In an electric arclamp containing two or more pairs or sets of carbons, a series consisting of a corresponding number of electro-magnets,the first magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil, and the second magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil and with a coarse-wire coil supplementary thereto, in combination with spring armatures which are actuated thereby, in the manner specified.

7. In an electric-arc lamp containing two or more pairs or sets of carbons, a corresponding number of electro-magnets, the first of said magnets being wound with a shunt-coil, and the second of said magnets being wound with a shunt-coil and with a coarse-wire coil supplementary thereto, in combination with armatures of said magnets actuated thereby to produce similar or dissimilar motion or rest in said armatures, according to the course pursued for the time being by an electric current energizing said magnets.

8. In an electric-arc lamp containing two or more pairs or sets of carbons, a corresponding number of feed mechanisms actuated by an equal number of electro-magnets, the first of said magnets being a simple shunt-magnet, and the second of said magnets being wound with a shunt-coil and with a carbon-circuit coil supplementary thereto, whereby the action of such feed mechanisms is governed and determined by the course pursued by the electric current energizing said magnets.

9. In an electric-arc lamp containing two or more sets of carbons, a series consisting of a corresponding number of electro-magnets, the first magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil, and the second magnet in said series being wound with a shunt-coil and with a coarse-wire coil supplementary thereto, in combination with a corresponding number of carbon-supporting rods and intermediate feed mechanisms actuated by said magnets,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a multiplex electric-arclamp, a series of electro-magnets, of which the first is wound with ashunt-coil,and the second is wound with a shunt-coil and with a carbon-circuit coil supplementary thereto, in combination with intermediate mechanisms actuated by said mag nets to impart to the carbons of such lampindependent separating and feeding movements.

11. The feed-magnet of lamp A,wound with the shunt-coil d, and the feedmagnet of lamp B, wound with the shunt-coil d and with the supplementary carbon-circuit coil 1), in combination with the springs s and 8, said springs and magnets cooperating to produce an unequal initial sensitiveness in the feed mechanisms actuated thereby, and to produce an equal sensitiveness in the same during the maintenance of the lightfirst in A and then in B.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name in' the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD H. MATHER.

W'it n ess es:

ALBERT H. WVALKER, \VILLARD EDDY. 

